Independent U.S. Senator of Vermont and twice former Democratic presidential primary candidate, Bernie Sanders, joined Bronx Democrats, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), who represents parts of Brooklyn, at a last-minute campaign rally organized by the “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress” campaign team in St. Mary’s Park in the Mott Haven section of The Bronx on Saturday, June 22.

 

The rally was a final push to get out the vote before Tuesday’s Democratic primary election in New York City. With temperatures in the upper 80s-90s, many in the crowd of over 1,000 were clustered around sections of the park covered by shade. The rally began with speeches from union members of Teamsters Local 202,  1199 / SEIU, and the New York State Nurses Association.

 

Referring to Sanders’ presidential primary campaign rally in St. Mary’s Park in 2016, Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd, “There is a reason why eight years ago, when the first major Jewish candidate for president, a democratic socialist, came to New York, he came to this park.”

 

The congresswoman, known nationally by her AOC initials, continued, “I was in that crowd that day. There is a reason why two years later, after that rally, the youngest woman in American history was elected to Congress [referring to herself]. There is a reason why she was a Puerto Rican waitress from The Bronx.”

The rally was held in part to help Bowman overcome the apparent 10-1 campaign spending ratio set by his Democratic primary challenger George Latimer, the current Westchester County executive, who according to the Sanders camp, has received over $14 million in campaign donations from AIPAC’s super PAC in an effort to unseat the congressman and former teacher who was first elected to Congress in 2020.

 

AIPAC stands for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its mission, according to the organization, is a Zionist lobbying group that advocates pro-Israel policies to the legislative and executive branches of the United States.

 

Zionism has been described either as a form of ethnic nationalism according to P.Y. Medding’s  Studies in Contemporary Jewry: XI: Values, Interests, and Identity: Jews and Politics in a Changing World, or as a form of ethno-cultural nationalism with civic nationalist components, according to Chaim Gans’ A Just Zionism: On the Morality of the Jewish State.

 

At the start of the rally, Velázquez told the crowd, “We need leaders like Jamaal Bowman in Congress, advocating for us and standing for environmental justice. The same can be said about reforming our public school system in this country.” She added, “Jamaal Bowman is not willing to compromise his values regardless of the consequences.”

 

Standing behind a podium emblazoned with the AOC campaign slogan which read, “FOR THE many, NOT THE money,” Bowman later told the cheering crowd of supporters, “AIPAC is scared to death. That is why they are spending record amounts of money in this race – because they are afraid. They have already lost because this district, the American people and the world, are with us.” He added, added, “They are in this race because we call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and we’re going to keep calling for the permanent ceasefire.”

Sanders, 82, came out onto the stage as John Lennon’s “Power to the People” was played on the sound system. The veteran progressive senator told the crowd, “I’m here today because this election is one of the most important in the modern history of America.” He continued, “This election is about whether or not the billionaire class and the oligarchs will control the United States government, and our view is no they won’t.”

 

Sanders concluded, “What this campaign is about is telling the billionaires, and their greed and their super PACs, they are not going to destroy American democracy. On that issue, every person who votes for the Democratic Party has got to be united. We stand together.”

 

During the rally, EMS were seen treating at least two people, a man and a woman, who most likely suffered a heat-related illness. After the rally, Mott Haven resident Alex Brown said, “I thought it was really great, very empowering. It makes us excited to know we’re going to win the primary on Tuesday.” The young woman said of Bowman’s speech, “I thought Bowman did an excellent job, really reminding everyone what he is up against.”

 

As the crowd exited the way they had entered the park, they were redirected by a few dozen NYPD officers who were blocking a crowd of around 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators organized by the group “Within Our Lifetime.”

We spoke to one member of the group, who declined to be identified, and would only say he was a “lifelong New Yorker.” He told Norwood News, “I counterprotested the AOC, Jamaal Bowman and Bernie Sanders rally in The Bronx to call out their war crimes, complicity with the ongoing holocaust in Gaza, and their inefficacy in bringing about any meaningful change to the working-class people of The Bronx.”

 

As reported, Sanders had earlier held a roundtable with a small group of New York City journalists in advance of the rally.

 

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, June 25, Darius Jones, senior adviser of the National Black Empowerment Action Fund, contacted Norwood News with the following comments regarding Bowman,

“Black voters across the country are focused on safe communities, good-paying jobs and driving down the cost of living, good schools of our choice for our kids, health care, and realizing the Biden agenda, including reducing gun violence, lower prescription drug costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare and investments in our neighborhoods,” said Jones.

 

“These are common-sense priorities. But, too often, our needs come last, and we are silenced and taken for granted by representation that puts their own out-of-step ideologies and political agendas before the Black community’s needs. No more. That’s why we are focused on empowering the Black community in the Bronx and Westchester – to demand representation in our best interest,” he added.

Jones continued, “What’s starting in New York marks the beginning of a multiyear project aimed at realigning political representation with community priorities. Change runs through Black communities. We are committed to transforming our policy and political landscape to better reflect and serve the needs of Black communities everywhere.”

Jones added, “Importing celebrity politicians into the district may get attention and draw crowds, but here’s what it doesn’t do: it won’t make residents in The Bronx and Westchester feel any safer or improve their quality of life. It won’t change the fact that Jamaal Bowman wants to defund the police, works against increasing jobs, and opposes building projects. It won’t change the fact that Bowman tried to block President Biden’s infrastructure bill and it won’t change the fact that Bowman voted against the president and his Black colleagues in Congress 118 times.”

He said it also wouldn’t provide relief to Black families who he said were on “endless waitlists for charter schools and other public-school options, given that Jamaal Bowman doesn’t think Black New Yorkers should have a choice.” Jones said, “And it won’t change Bowman’s membership in the Democratic Socialists of America, his embrace of their radical positions, or his extremist record.”

He continued, “So, at today’s rally with socialist celebrities who don’t represent the needs of Black residents, you’ll hear a lot of rhetoric, and hear a lot about grievances and issues outside the district but what you won’t hear is anyone speaking on a single Black priority in the district or solutions to a single problem for constituents.”

Jones concluded, “Congressman Mondaire Jones is the latest in a growing chorus of Black leaders who haven’t been afraid to raise serious concerns about Congressman Jamaal Bowman.  There’s a very good reason for that – over and over Bowman has voted against President Biden, the Democratic Party, and Black congressional leaders because he aligns himself with extremists who want to defund the police in Black neighborhoods, deny Black children their educational choices, and derail economic development in Black communities.  That’s why NBEAF is committed to making sure that Black families know Bowman’s record and he can no longer ignore our voices.”

Norwood News has reached out Congressman Bowman’s team for comment and will update this story upon receipt of a response.

 

Election Day is Tuesday, June 25, and polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., to find your polling site as well as additional information on the election and candidates, visit the New York City Board of Elections website at: www.vote.nyc/elections.